Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 7th November 2007

U-14 football

On Sunday in Annacurra the curtain came down on a memorable season for our u-14 footballers with victory over Baltinglass in the u-14A shield. Throw-in was at the extremely inconvenient time of 10.30am; a time guaranteed to deter all but the most committed of supporters and which had mentors and players yawning their way to the match venue.

The final tally was Éire Óg 7-10 (17 scores), Baltinglass 2-12 (14 scores), proof, if proof be needed, for the platitude with respect to goals and the winning of matches. James Smullen, the Wicklow Times Man of the Match - a well-deserved accolade - was responsible for 3 of these goals. At the break Éire Óg were somewhat lucky to be 2 points ahead, 4-3 to 1-10, evidence of the difficulty they had in the 1st. half in dispelling their early morning torpor. The second period was an altogether different story. A, by then fully awake, Éire Óg upped their performance immeasurably and played some of their best football of the season - excellent teamwork, wonderful scores, a display of a wide repertoire of lovely ball skills. Every member of the travelling squad had his moment in the limelight. A very satisfactory end to an eventful season.

The enthusiasm and commitment of the squad never waned over what was an unusually protracted season (those heady days of Féile seem now but a distant memory). Surely a tribute to the dedication of their mentors.

Gorey and District hurling league

The club has entered both an u-17 and an u-13 team in the Gorey and District hurling leagues. They played their 1st matches on Sunday. The u-13s travelled to Camolin where they played the local St. Pats team. Teams are 11-a-side and Éire Óg was represented by Glen Reilly, Brian O'Donnell, James Cranley, James Nolan, Conor Cornwall, Conor Randles, Anto Byrne, Dan O'Neill, Joey Molloy, Seán Hughes and Kevin Byrne. The team gave a fine performance and thoroughly enjoyed the Wexford experience. And why wouldn't they? They were extremely well treated by their hosts.

Their next game is on Friday under lights in Askimore.

The u-17s, on the other hand, had a very tough assignment in the away game to the black and amber of Ballygarrett who were the Wexford minor B champions and had a number of county minor panellists. Despite a long rust-inducing period of idleness - their last game was in the minor final back in July - our lads acquitted themselves creditably in what was an enjoyable and useful pipe-opener. Peter Keane, Daniel Salmon when he switched to full-back, Jack Tanner together with Phelim and Marty (1-3) Byrne were most prominent outfield while Mark Doran brought off some awe-inspiring saves.

U-16 hurling

It is a complaint often heard among our players that the club is too compliant to the wishes of the game-scheduling authorities. One has to be sympathetic to those involved in games administration - they have a very difficult task - but there are times when their machinations are detrimental to the interests of the club and a stand needs to be taken. The u-16 hurling mentors were caught in such a situation last week-end. They were given extremely short notice, after weeks of a lay-off, of a two championship game week-end. They were to play Bray in their final group game on Saturday and were then to play Aughrim in the B championship quarter final on the Sunday. Despite their reservations they agreed. Against all the odds they lost to Aughrim by 2 points on a pitch that was anything but conducive to good hurling.

Training

U-8 football training continues on Wednesday nights at 6pm.

Indoor hurling in preparation for the u-10 and u-12 indoor hurling leagues has been arranged for Thursdays from 7- 8pm.

The u-17 hurlers train under lights on Thursdays until the end of November.

Dates for your diary

The club AGM takes place on 28th November and the juvenile sub-committee AGM on the 15th November. Both are at 8pm in the clubrooms. All motions and nominations must be submitted in writing to the club secretary at least 2 days before the scheduled dates lof the respective meetings.

A night for Juvenile prizegiving has not yet been finalised but it is intended that it will be shortly after the Juvenile AGM.

Social

Friday night was Disco night for the younger members of the club and their friends. From 7.00 to 8.30pm the u-10s, and from 9.00 to 10.30pm the u-13s shook, rattled and rolled to the music and patter of D.J. Zach Campbell. Proceedings were very well supervised by an experienced team of adults. It is hoped to satisfy the numerous demands for a repeat sometime this side of Christmas